2007-01-11 Freaky Literary Acid Drops

This collection of short stories followed quickly on the heels of "Trainspotting", quite aptly, for Welsh obviously learned his craft in the medium of the short story - "Trainspotting" being a disjointed collection of them with a nifying set of characters. In fact, some might argue that he is better suited to this literary form, as they allow for experiments with form, style and viewpoint that might become grating over the course of a novel, and the stories are much more concentrated than his novels has become.

The stories do vary a great deal, but it's to Welsh's credit that they are all recognisably him, whatever the voice adopted. In the opening story, "The Shooter", a straightup crime story, his ear for speech is immediately obvious, as is his incredibly incisive eye. His interest in body-play pops up in several stories, such as "Eurotrash", about a transsexual, "The Acid House", where a football hooligan and baby exchange places, and even "Wayne Foster", which I'll leave the reader to decipher. There's a brilliant black humour, especially in "A Soft Touch" and perhaps the most ludicrous shaggy-dog story I've ever heard or read of, "The Two Philosophers".

The best thing in the book comes last - the novella. It follows a character similar to Mark Renton - both are alienated working-class intellectuals - between London and Edinburgh. It's less bleak and bitter than sections of "Triainspotting" but no less worth reading; an under-noticed gem in Welsh's writings.

I really wish that Welsh would return with a collection of short stories, which is perhaps the highest commendation I can give to this book. It's an utterly absorbing read.